A woman who stole more than £30,000 from her boss was jailed for eight months yesterday after she agreed to spend a further year on probation.

Belfast Crown Court heard that 47-year-old Jane Simpson was working as a supervisor at a filling station when she stole £32,518 over three months between July and October 2004.

Prosecuting QC David Hunter told the court Simpson, from Invernook Drive in east Belfast, had been in charge of " collecting and safeguarding the takings" each day and handing them to security every three days.

However instead of handing over all the monies Simpson would pocket a portion of it, the biggest single theft being £5,744.

Mr Hunter said the thefts were uncovered when her boss found "financial irregularities" in the accounts and after he contacted police, they kept her under surveillance.

Handing down the terms, Judge Lockie told Simpson it had taken a "degree of co-ordination and planning" to steal the money from which there is " no prospect of restitution".